Machine for sizing barrel-hoops and securing the ends thereof.



' No. 815,835. PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906 J.- G. IVERSON, "MACHINE EOE SIZING BARREL Hours AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

ARIZLIUATION FILED MA'Y4, 1904.

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No. 815,835. (PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906 v J. G. IVERSON. MACHINE FOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1904.

15SHEETS-SEEET 2 No. 815,835.. "PATENTBD MAR. 20, 1906-.

J. G. IVERSON. MACHINE FOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1904.

S-HE l Q mu Jm-I rJYERSaH V) HIJ ATTORHC YO No. 815,835. I PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906.

* J. G. IVERSON.

MACHINE FOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AND SECURING THE. ENDS THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1904.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 815,835. 1 PATBNTED MAR. 20, 1906.

' J. G. IYBRSON. 1

MACHINE FOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AN-D SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1964; v

15 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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WITNEJJEJ No. 815,835. 7 PATBNTED MAR. 20, 1906 J. GLIVERSON.

MACHINE FOR SiZING BARREL HOOPS AN D SECURING THE ENDS'THEREOF.

' APPILIGATIONIILED MAY4,1904. I

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PATBNTBD MAR. 20, 1906.

J-, G. IVER'SON. MACHINE EOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AND SEGURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

APPLICATION FILED MAY4. 1904.

15 sums-$112M '1.

JJEJ W PATENTBD MAR. 20, 1906. J.G.IVERSON.

MACHINE FOR SIZING B APPLICATION FILED MAY4. 1904.

ARREL HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF 15 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

. MW? N/DYEaJEiJ 5 w" I: I fa/m' GJVERJO/Y 2%Z M No.815,8 85. PATBNTED MAR.20, 1906.

J. G'.,IVERSON.

MACHINE FOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

' APPLIOATION FILED MAY 4-. 1904.

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@me w? PATEN'I'ED MAR. '20, 1906.

I J. G. IVERSON. I .M AGHINE FOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

v APPLIOATION TILED MAY. 1904.

15 snns'ursamnm 1o.

1191 6. MP1 I I!" N0. 815,835. PATENTED' MAR. 20,- 1906.

J. G. IVERSON.

MACHINE FOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 4. i904.

a I 1 i l I 1 l I PATBNTED MAR. 20, 1906.

J. G. IVERSON. L HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS T MACHINE FOR SIZING BARRE HEREOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY4. 1904.-

15 SHEETS-SHEBT 1s.

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W W 4 mw No. 815,835. PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906.

v J. G. IVERSON. MACHINE FOR SIZING BARREL HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

APPLIOATION rum) MAY 4. 1904. 4 v 15 SHEETSSHBET 14. Z23

ll II I II 1| r CD " t at STATES PATENT orrion To all whom it may concern:

JOHN G. IVERSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO E. OOTTRELL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CHARLES MACHINE FOR SIZING BARREL-HOOPS AND SECURING THE ENDS THEREOF.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 20, 1906.

Application filed May 4, 1904. Serial in. 206,296.

Be it known that I, JOHN G. IVERsoN, of

, Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin,

State of Minnesota, have invented certain new anduseful Im rovements in Machines for Sizing 'Barreloops and Securing the Ends Thereof, ofwhich the following is a specification. .1

" r This inventlon relates to lmprovements 1n machines forpsizing barrel-hoops and securing the ends thereof, and particularly to improvementsinthe machine shown, described, and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 597,701, issued January 18,1898, upon the application of Clarence 0. White.

The objects of the present invention areto provide, first, improved means for starting and stopping the machine; second, improved means for feeding the wire; third, improved means for cutting ofl the wire; fourth, improved means for forming the staples fifth, improved means for setting the staples, and, sixth, improved means for expanding the barrel-hoop and holding it while the staples are being set for the purpose of securing the ends of the hoop.

The invention consists generally in the constructions and combinations hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side section taken on line'6 6 of Fig. 13. a front elevation of a portion of the machine, showing the hoop-expander.

' elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the; same. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of arrow a. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sec-i tion on line 5 5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of arrow I). Fig. 6 is a horizontal detailf .Fig. 7 is Fig.8 is asimilar view showing a hoop expanded and in p0; sition for having its ends secured. Figs; 9; 10, 11, and 12 are details of the mechanism for connecting'and disconnecting the main shaft of the machine and the continuously; rotating driving-pulley. Figs. 10 and: 10 are details of the brake-shoe lock. Fig.= 13 is a detail longitudinal section. Fig. 14 is a detail section, onan enlarged scale, ofthe staple forming and setting mechanism, the Section beingtaken on line 1414 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a front elevation and partial section of the staple forming and setting mech- .anism, the section being taken on line 15 15 of Fig. 13. Figs. 16, 1'7, and 18 are details of the staple-forming mechanism. Fig. 19 is a detail of the staple-forming and the staplesetting mechanisms. Fig.- 20 is a detail of substantially the same parts shown in Fig. 19 in the position that they occupy when the staple-setting operation is completed. Fig. 21 is a front elevation of the staple-forming plunger. Fig. 21 isv a detail of the block that guides the plungers. Fig. 22 is a section online 22 22 of Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a section on line 23 23of Fig. 21. Fig. 23" is a detail section on line at m of Fig. .21. Fig. 24 is a front elevation of the wire-cutters. Figs. 25 and 26 are details of the staple-guides.

In all of the drawings, 2 represents the frame of the. machine, of any suitable size and.

hoop-expander and for some of the other parts of the mechanism.

The starting and stopping mechanism. Mounted loosely upon the rear end of the shaft 3 is a driving-pulle 4, which isadapted to be driven continuous y by a suitable driving-belt. This pulley is provided with the pins 5 5, projecting from its hub and extending, preferably, parallel with the shaft 3. In

front of the pulley 4 and fast to the shaft 3 is a cam 6, provided with the cam-surface 7 and upon its edge with the sprocket-teeth 8.

The cam 6. is preferably secured to the shaft.

by a suitable spline or key 6 (see Fig. 9,) and within the hub 10 of the cam is a sliding key 9. A spring 11, arranged in a recess in the hub 10, engages the key 9 and tends to move it toward the pulley 4. Thiskey is released when it is desired to operate the machine, and

the end of the key is thrust forward by the spring and is then engaged by one of the pins 5, and thereby the cam and the shaft 3 are caused to rotate with said pulley 4. It is de-. sired, however, to have the cam and the shaft make only a single revolution, and I therefore provide means for releasing and stopping the f a cap-screw 20, that passes through a slot in .treadle 26.

cam and the shaft at the end of the revolution.

Mounted upon the shaft 3 in front of the cam 6 is a sleeve 12, having a groove that is in line with the groove in the hub of the cam in which the key 9 slides. This key projects from the hub of the cam into the groove in the sleeve 12, and the key slides freely in this groove. The key is provided with an upturned lug 13, and a ring 14 surrounds the sleeve 12, passing over the key 9 inside of the lug 13. The ring 14 is made narrower for a portion of its width, the narrow and wide portions being connected by the incline 15. (See Fig. 12.) The ring 14 is also provided with a projecting lug 16. (See Figs. 10 and 11.) Secured upon the surface of the ring 14 i is an adjustable plate 17 having an inclined end 18 and having also a projecting lug 19.

This plate is secured in position by means of the platef i Avertically-movable rod 21 is arranged to of this rod is connected to an arm 23 upon a shaft 24, and a corresponding arm 25, se-

cured upon this shaft, extends to the forward end of the machine and carries a suitable A spring 25 is connected to the arm 25 and to the frame of the machine, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This spring tends to raise the end of the arm 25 and depress thefree end of the arm 23, and with. it the vertically-sliding rod 21. When it is desired to start the machine, the operator places his foot upon the treadle 26, raises the rod 21, and through engagement with the weighted dog 22 the lug 16 turns the ring 14, bringing the narrow part of the ring over the key 9 and permitting said key to be moved by the spring 11 into the path of one of the projeeting pins 5 of the driving-pulley 4. This causes the cam to rotate with the pulley to make a complete revolution. It is necessary, however, to stop the cam at the end of the revolution and to lock it in position, so as to prevent any overrunning thereof. For this purpose I provide a brake and a lock by which the cam is stopped at the proper time and by which it is locked until again released by the operator. For this purpose a ring 29 is clamped upon the hub of the cam and secured in position by means of a suitable bolt 30. By loosening the bolt the ring may be adjusted to any desired position. This ring is provided at one side with an arm 31, which is provided at its outer end'with a socket containing a suitable brake-block 32, preferably of wood or other suitable material. A lever 33 is pivoted upon the frame of the machine and its upper portion is suitably curved so that the block 32 engages therewith and the curved portion of the lever acts as a brakeshoe. The position of the lever may be ad j usted by means of a suitable screw 34.

A pivoted bell-crank lever 35 is arranged upon the frame of the machine, and upon the upper end of the lever 33 is a spring-dog 36, having a slot that is engaged by a pin 37 in the bell-crank lever 35. This dog is secured on the lever 33, and owing to its spring connection it has a slight forward-and-backward movement. This dog has a hook 36, which when the dog has been moved back slightly engages the end of the lever 33 and springs said lever away from the brake-block. One arm of the lever 35 is provided with a roller 38, that rests upon the ring 14. When in its normal position, the dog 36 projects beyond the curved space of the lever a sufiicient distance to come in contact with the edge of the arm 31, and thereby to act as a lock for said arm and for the cam 6. (See Fig. 9.) A spring-controlled dog 39 is adapted to engage a notch in the edge of the arm 31 and prevent backward movement thereof.

When it is desired to start the machine, as already explained, the rod 21 is moved upward, turning the ring 14 and moving the plate 17 under the roller 38 on the lever 35. The movement of the ring 14 is limited by the lug 19, which comes in contact with the roller 38. A further movement of the dog causes the hook 36 to engage the end of the lever 33 and spring it away from the block 32, thus releasing the brake. The same movement of the ring 14 releases the key 9 and permits it to be moved by the spring 1] into position to be engaged by one of the pins 5, as already explained. When the shaft 3 begins to rotate, the ring 14 moves with it until the lug 16 strikes a stationery lug 16, which is secured upon the frame of the machine. This moves the plate 17 from beneath the roller 38, and the spring-dog 36 now moves back to its original position, and it will engage the arm 31 again when the shaft 3 completes its revolution. The lever 33 may be adjusted by the screw 34 so as to secure the desired amount of friction between the curved portion of said lever and the block 32. The parts are so timed that the brake is relieved and the cam is released before the key moves forward to be engaged by one of the pins in the driving-wheel.

The wire ceding dwicc.As this machine preferably forms and sets two staples at a time, it is necessary that the wire-feeding device should be in duplicate, so that two strands of wire may be simultaneously fed to the machine. The frame of the machine provided with a rearwardly-projecting arm 40, upon each side of which is secured a tube 41, to which the wire from a suitable spool passes to the machine. The arm 40 is provided with the depending lugs 42, to which the tubes 41 are secured, and these lugs are provided with guide-recesses for a reeiprocatin g Biases face 7 of the cam 6 at all times.

per rear portion of the arm 40, passes through i a recess in the forward portion of the arm, and is connected to a lug 45, secured to the sliding bar 43. An adjustable arm 46 issecured upon the arm 43, and this arm carries a roll 47, that engages the face 7 of the cam 6. The spring 44 tends to move the bar 43 backward and holds the roll 47 in contact with the The forward end of the bar 43 is provided with the brackets 48, carrying the depending arms 49. Each ofthese arms'is provided with a suitable gripper 50, adapted to engage the wire and move it forward and then to release it and slide upon the wire while the bar is moved -1 backward. The gripper 50 consists of a recessed plate through which the wire passes,

a pivoted dog 51, arranged to engage the wire in the recess, and a spring 52, engaging the end of the dog and adapted to hold the dog in a closed or open position,that is, in position to engage the wire or not engage it, as may be desired. If for any reason it is desired to put in a single staple or for any other reason it is desired to operate the machine withv out moving the wire, the dog is tipped backward, so that its lower end is away from the bottom of the recessed plate, and it is held in this position by the spring. After each wire passes through its tube 41 it passes through a suitable 'wirestraightener. I have shown two straighteners, one for each wire, both operated by a belt 53, passing from a pulley 54 upon a shaft 55. The shaft 55 is mountedf upon the frame of the machine and carries at its rear end a sprocket-pinion 56, that is engaged by a sprocket-chain 57, driven by the teeth 8 upon the edge of the cam 6. I do not} in this application deem it necessary to show and describe in detail the construction of the 1 each wire is straightened and put in condition for having a staple formed therefrom. The-wire passes through suitable cutters and to the staple-forming plunger, so that after the wire is fed'forward a suitable length is cut ofi and is formed into a staple, which is ap plied .to the barrel-hoop. I will later describe the construction of the cutters and the; staple forming and setting mechanism. I

will first, however, describe the means for ex-j panding and clamping the hoopin position to have the staples applied thereto.

The hoop expander and dangl -At the forward end of the machine I provide means for .expandin g'the hoop and then clamping it. with the ends overlappingin the position in which theyare to be secured by the staples.

As thebarrelsupon which thehoops are to be used are provided with a bilge, the hoops must be of greater diameter at one edge than at the other, and when they are expanded and clamped they must. be brought into proper position to secure this result.

At the forward end of the machine and above the shaft 3 is an anvil which forms a support for the ends of the hoop while the staples are being inserted. This anvil consists of a block, preferably of substantially triangular form, but having a curved upper surface and being secured to the frame of the machine by suitable bolts 61 passing through the lugs or ears 62. The shaft 3 also preferably passes through the lower end of the block and forms an additional support therefor. 'Pivoted upon the frame of the machine plate 63 is pivoted at 65 and has a s ort section 66 projecting beyond the pivot and forming a shoulder 67. oted at 68. The plate 63 extends within the plate 64, so-that when in'position to receive a barrel-hoop these/plates overlap each other,

The plate 64 is pivas shown in Fig. 7. Secured upon the front of the machine back-of these plates are the sheet-metal plates 69, over which the rear edge of the spring-plates move while the hoo is being expanded. Arranged upon the sha t 3 within the circle of the spring-plates is a suitably-shaped cam .70. Two expandinglevers 71 and 73 arearranged Within the expanding-plates, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The lever 71 is pivoted at one side of the expander and preferably at the rear of one of the plates 69. This lever has a slotted'arm 77, in which is secured a roller 78, that is always in contact with the edge of the cam 70. This roller may be adjusted to any desired position inthe slotted arm 77, and thereby the size to which the hoop shall be expanded may be regulated. The lever 71 has also an arm 74, carrying a roller 75, that rests upon one of the blocks 7 6 upon the inner surface of the expanding-plate 63. The lever 71 also has an arm 79, carrying a roller 80, that is adapted to move over the curved arm 81 .upon the lever 7 3. The lever7 3 has pivoted to its end a block 82, that rests against the inner surfaceof the expanding-plate 63 near its end., A coil-spring 83 is connected to the lever 73 and to a lug upon the side of the anvil 60. The lever 73 is preferably pivoted upon a projecting arm 84, that is suitably secured to the frame of the machine. A pivoted stop 85 is arranged above the anvil 60 and is adapted to rest .upon the surface of a hoop applied to the anvil and to the expanding-- plates and to form a gage against which one end of the hoop may be brought when the hoop is applied to the anvil and expanded. The other end of the hoop is brought against the shoulder 67 on the expander.

The parts bein in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7 of t e drawings, a hoop is applied to the anvil and expander, one end of the hoop being brought against the stop and the other against the stop or shoulder 67. The machine being started, the shaft 3 rotates and the cam 70, turning with said shaft, bears upon the roller 78 upon the lever 71. This roller moving downward causes the arms 7 4 and 79 of the lever 71 to move downward also. The roller 80 upon the arm 79 travels over .the surface 81 of the lever 73 from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8, and all of the parts of the expander move from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8. By this means the hoop is expanded and brought to the desired size, and this size is determined by the position of the roller 78 in the slotted arm 77. The upper surface of the anvil is preferably formed as a separate block 60, provided with a central slot, and a pivoted dog 86, arranged within the anvil, is adapted to move upward through this slot and to engagethe forward edge of the hoop and move it back against the top plates 87, arranged at the rear of the anvil and in the same vertical plane as the plates 69. The do 86 is connected by a link 88 with a horizonta lever 89, and this lever is connected to the upper end of the rod 28, lureinbefore referred to. The lower end of this rod is connected by a spring 27 with the treadle-arm 25, so that when the operator presses downward upon the treadle 26, after having placed a hoop in position on the machine, the dog 86 is caused to move upward through the slotted anvil and engage the forward edge of the hoop and move said hoop against the stop-plates 87 and clamp it in this position. This action does not, however, prevent the inner end of the hoop from sliding under the outer end while the hoop is being expanded; but it holds the hoop in proper position vertically for having the staples applied thereto. The spring connection between the treadle and the clamping-do 86 allows also for variations in the width of the hoops. It'will be understood that the clamping-dog 86 is brought against the edge of the hoop before the hoop is expanded and that it holds said hoop in proper position against the stop-plates 87 and the plates 69 while the expansion is taking place.

The wirecatters.The means that I prefer to employ for cutting the wire is shown most clearly in Figs. 13, 16, 17, and 24. For this purpose I provide for each wire a stationary knife or cutter 90 and a pivoted swinging knife or cutter 91. The knives 91 erases are mounted upon the adjustable brackets 92 and are engaged by the springs 93,- and these knives are operated by the adjustable wedgeshaped block 94, arranged within the plunger 95. The block 94 is provided with a stem 96, the upper end of which is screw-threaded and is engaged by a nut 97. This nut is provided with holes in its edge, and it is arranged within a recess in the plunger 95. (See Fig. 13.) By turning this nut the block 94- may be adjusted within the plunger, and therefore the action of the wire-cutters may be regulated. The brackets 92 being ad justable, the cutters 91 may be adjusted in relation to the cutters 90. The cutters 90 are also preferably secured in position by means of the blocks 98, and these cutters are also capable of adjustment. The wire is fed forward and rests upon a shoulder upon the end of each of the cutters 90, (see Fig. 24,) and while held in this position the descent of the plunger causes the cutters 91 to turn upon their pivots and to sever the wire. This operation of the cutters produces a bevel out upon the upper side of each wire as the wire lies in the machine, (see Fig. 16,) and this brings the straight side of the wire upon the inner side of the staple and upon the inner side of the hook formed in the leg of H e staple as it is being inserted in the hoop. (See Figs. 19 and 20.)

The staple-former and top hoop-clamp.- The staple-former is similar in its general features to that shown and described in the White patent, No. 597,701. I have, however, made material improvements in its construction, and I use two such staple-formers. so as to form and apply two staples to the hoop at the same time. I also provide a clamp that comes onto the top of the hoop and clamps it firmly while the staples are being applied thereto.

On the front of the machine and above the anvil is a recessed stationary guide-block 100 and a guide-plate 102, which form guides for three plungersa central plunger (which is the plunger already referred to as operating the movable cutters) and two side plungers 103. (See Fig. 6.) These plungers are given reciprocating movement by means hereinafter described. The block 1.00 is secured upon the front of the machine-frame, and guid eways for the central plunger are formed in this block. The plate 102 has the rearwardly-extending guide-lugs 104, and guide-bars 105 are secured upon the front of the machine-frame. The side plungers (which as a whole are designated by the numeral 103) are arranged to slide between the outer ends of the block and the lugs 10 1 and bars 105. (See Fig. 6.) The central plunger 95 moves vertically; but the side plungers stand at an angle to the plane of a hoop in position in the machine, and they each move up and down in a line at right angles to a tangent to the surface of the ger.

anvil at a point under the center of the p'lunger. The angular position of the plunger is provided in order that the staple formed. thereby may be placed in an angular position across the hoop. (See Figs. and26.)

The central plunger not only controls themovement of the wire-cutters, but it also-l carries the top hoop-clamp 106, consisting of three bars arranged in a central recess in said plunger and provided with the spring 107, which surrounds a rod 108,,to which the barsl are secured and which causes the ends of said! bars to bear on the hoop witha yielding pres-i sure. The center bar is straight and pointed atits lower end, while each of the other bars has an outturned point, and these points engage the upper surface of the hoop when in position in the machine andprevent its col-j lapsing while the staples are being applied.-;

The spring acting on the bars will .yield sufii-.

ciently to permit the clamp to accommodate; itself to any thickness of hoop. 1

The central plunger 95' is provided with the outwardly-projecting arms 109, provided: withthe slots 110 and at their outer ends with the rollers 111.] These arms project. through openings in the upper ends of thel side plungers, (seeFig. 21 and a pin 112,{ surrounded by a roller 113, passes through; each of the slots 110.. (See Fig. 15,) By; this means each of the side plungers is caused? to move down and up with the central plun-j ger. Each of the side plungers, like the sin-, gle plunger shown and described in the: White patent, No. 597,-701, above referred to, is formed inthree partsan outer part 103, (see; Figs. 6, 21, and 23,)a central part 118, (see Figs. 6, 16, and 23,) and an intermediate .part 119. (See Figs. 6, 21, and 23) The outer part of the plunger is centrally re- 1 cessed, and within this recess is placed the!v intermediate part.

,is also centrally recessed, and within it is, placed the central part.

The intermediate part i The outer part ofj the plunger is provided at the top with a? recess, and a roller 113-extends across thisv recess and passes through a recess 110 ini the projecting arm 109 of the central plun- (See Figs. 14 and 15.) A pin 112 has its ends secured in the plunger and forms; a support for the'roller 113. The central part 118 of the plunger is provided with a;

pin 122, that projects through slots in ttej other two portions of the plunger and into a 1 groove 123 in the block 100. (See Fig. 22.) The upper part of the outer portion of the plunger is recessedand-has a shoulder 124,

that projects over the other parts of the plun-' ger, and a spring. 125, secured upon the central part 1180f the plunger, comes under this shoulder. The lower end of the central part 118 of the plunger is provided with the hinged head 126, and a suitable groove is formed in the lower end of each portion of, the plunger, and these grooves coincide when,

The outer and intermediate portions of the I plun er are provided with the staple-forming shou ders 127, 128, 129, and 130, and the shoulders 128 and 130 are each formed upon the lower end of a hinged bar 131 and 132, each of these bars being set into a recess in the portion of the plunger of which it forms a part. (See Figs. 21 and 23.) Suitable springs 133 and 134 are connected 'to the bars 131 and 132 and press said bars toward the center of the plunger and hold them with a yielding pressure against the walls of the recesses in which they are located. A setscrew 136 may be provided for adjusting the tension of the spring 134 and limiting the movement of the bar 132. A slot is formed in the intermediate portion 119 of the plunger, and a'block 137 is arranged in this slot and is seouredto the outer part of the plunger by means of a bolt 138. (See Figs. 21 and 23 The head of this bolt slides in a vertical groove in the block 100. (See Fig. 21 A spring 139' is arranged in the recess above the block 137 and holds the part 119 of the plunger normally elevated, so that the bottom of the recess is against the bottom'of the block. (See Fig. 19.) The outer. portion of the plunger is also provided with the blocks 140 and 141 which are arranged above the top of the intermediate portion 119 ofthe plunger and are adapted to come in contact therewith as the plunger descends. The

against the bottom of the plunger after it is cut off and while the first bends are being formed therein. This wire-holder consists of a pivotally-supported plate 142 of sufficient width to extend under the intermediate and central parts '119 and 118 of the plunger. (See Figs. 15, 16, and 17.) This plate'is secured to an axis 143, mounted in stationary bearings in the parts 104 and 105. (See Figs. 6 and 15.) The plate 142 issecured to the axis 143 by a screw 144 passing through a slot in the plate and engaging a threaded hole in the axis. Two or more of these screws may be provided. The plate is also provided with the inwardly-projecting lug 146, through which passes the screws 145, that bear upon the upper surface'of the axis 143.

By means of these screws the plate 142 may 

